I’m lucky that my skin is in pretty good shape, which I attribute to a mix of genetics [thanks, Mom!], healthier lifestyle, and just being a skin care fanatic in general. However, none of that saves me from hormonal breakouts that appear no matter what I do, and the only solution is to battle them with products designed for problem skin.
The latest addition to my breakout treatment stash – Shiseido IBUKI Multi Solution Gel – is designed to be a multi-purpose product that addresses several skin concerns, including acne, dryness, enlarged pores, and rough skin.
Here’s what Shiseido says about their creation:
Smooth, ready for anything skin is your new reality. This high-impact gel helps skin make an easy comeback from the effects of stress, erratic schedules and the environment. Its unique skin-conforming texture adheres well to problem areas, under and over makeup, to deliver effective ingredients.
Ingredients – CosDNA: Salicylic Acid 0.5%: Acne treatment. Water, Butylene Glycol, Sd Alcohol 40-B, Dimethicone, Peg/Ppg-14/7 Dimethyl Ether, Peg-240/Hdi Copolymer Bis-Decyltetradeceth-20 Ether, Glycyl Glycine, Peg-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Silica, Trehalose, Sodium Chloride, Gellan Gum, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Serine, Polyquaternium-51, Paeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract, Aesculus Hippocastanum (Horse Chestnut) Seed Extract, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Potassium Hydroxide, Disodium Edta, Sodium Citrate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Alcohol, Citric Acid, Glycerin, Bht, Peg-30 Soy Sterol, Trisodium Edta, Phenoxyethanol, Fragrance, Yellow 5, Blue 1
I usually start with pros first, but today I wanted to mention one con before we move on to the positives. From taking a look at the ingredient list, I noticed that the formula contains Sd Alcohol 40-B, a type of Denaturated Alcohol that is drying and irritating for any skin type. It’s hard to avoid it in products designed for problem skin, but I noticed that I don’t get any major issues when I dab on this gel locally in small amounts. I should also mention another mini-con: jar packaging. I don’t want to sound like a broken record, but some skin care experts claim that the product inside can be easily contaminated from constant finger dipping, and antioxodant-heavy formulas may become less potent from exposure to oxygen.
I’ve been using IBUKI Multi Solution Gel as a topical treatment for the past several weeks, and I believe it’s gentler than many of my spot solutions. I assume that’s because the concentration of Salicylic Acid in the formula is only 0.5%, which is enough to be effective, but not too high to potentially irritate or even dry out my already dehydrated skin.
This treatment looks like a semi-opaque green gel that slowly flows like a liquid when you tip the jar. At first it might seem like you aren’t getting much product since the jar contains only 1oz, but it’s actually pretty concentrated. A small dab is all it takes to cover the affected area.
Shiseido IBUKI Multi Solution Gel may not be the best type of treatment for someone with moderate to severe acne, but for my occasional breakouts it’s working pretty well, so I will continue using it for the time being.
WHERE TO BUY: $38 USD for 1oz. Available at Shiseido, Nordstrom, Birchbox, Macy’s, Saks Fifth Avenue.
Have you tried IBUKI Multi Solution Gel? What’s your favorite product for troubled skin? Let me know in the comments below!
Disclosure: This post features products received for editorial consideration and may contain affiliate or referral links. For more details about my product review policy, copyright, and information about affiliate links, please refer to Disclosures & Content Use page.
